TRIPOLI/SIRTE, Libya (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited Libya on Tuesday to urge its disparate militias to unite around their new leaders, while loyalists of ousted Muammar Gaddafi launched a counter-attack in his hometown of Sirte.

Clinton is the most senior U.S. official to come to Tripoli since Gaddafi’s 42-year rule ended in August. Her visit was marked by tight security, reflecting worries that Libya’s new rulers have yet to establish full control over the country.

TRIPOLI/SIRTE, Libya, Oct 19 (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton hailed “Libya’s victory” during a visit to
Tripoli but fighters loyal to Muammar Gaddafi were still holding
out in his home town, underscoring the challenges facing the
country’s new leaders.

Clinton is the most senior U.S. official to come to Tripoli
since Gaddafi’s 42-year rule ended in August. Her visit was
marked by tight security, reflecting worries that Libya’s new
rulers have yet to establish full control over the country.

TRIPOLI/SIRTE, Libya (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Libya on Tuesday to meet the new leaders Washington helped into power, but die-hard forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi launched a surprise counter-attack in his hometown of Sirte.

The visit by Clinton, the most senior U.S. official to come Tripoli since Gaddafi’s 42 year rule was ended, was marked by tight security, reflecting worries that the new rulers have yet to establish full control over the country.

TRIPOLI (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made an unannounced visit to Libya on Tuesday to cement relations with the new leaders Washington helped install, offer aid and encourage them to follow through on a promise of swift elections.

Clinton arrived in Tripoli aboard a U.S. military aircraft to begin the one-day visit during which she was scheduled to meet leaders from the National Transitional Council (NTC), civil society activists and staff of the newly re-opened U.S. embassy.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. aid groups have accused the Obama administration of playing politics with North Korean food aid, imperiling millions of hungry and vulnerable people in the isolated Communist state.

As South Korean President Lee Myung-bak continued his state visit to the United States on Friday a group of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) wants the Obama administration to explain what they call unconscionable delays in deciding whether to resume U.S. food assistance to North Korea.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Time and money are running short for Hillary Clinton.

After surprising the world in 2009 when she signed up as secretary of state for her Democratic rival President Barack Obama, Clinton has repeatedly said she will stand aside after Obama’s term ends in January 2013, leaving her just 15 months to cement her legacy as America’s top diplomat.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Palestinians’ push for U.N. membership is not going anywhere for now, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Tuesday, arguing that they should resume peace talks with Israel quickly.

Clinton told Reuters many nations were making the case to the Palestinians that their formal letter delivered on September 23 seeking U.N. membership would not give them a state and that the only viable path was direct negotiations with Israel.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Iran’s alleged ties to a plot to kill the Saudi ambassador in Washington will isolate Tehran, strengthen Gulf security alliances and spur stricter enforcement of sanctions against Iranian interests, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Tuesday.

Clinton said the U.S. announcement that it had foiled the plot demonstrated that Tehran was a “bad guy” and a threat to the world at large.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States said on Friday it was worried about North Korea’s food crisis but that it had made no decision on resuming aid because of concerns over whether the help will truly reach the needy.

“The United States remains deeply concerned about the well-being of the North Korean people. We take this issue very seriously,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said in a statement.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama warned Pakistan on Thursday that its ties with “unsavory characters” have put relations with the United States at risk, as he ratcheted up pressure on Islamabad to cut alleged links with militants mounting attacks in Afghanistan.

Obama accused Pakistan’s leaders of “hedging their bets” on Afghanistan’s future, but stopped short of threatening to cut off U.S. aid, despite calls from lawmakers for a tougher line over accusations that Pakistani intelligence supported strikes on U.S. targets in Afghanistan.